Rose Schaddelee, center left, Erin Boggess and others taking part in the SENSE Theatre Summer Camp at University School of Nashville rehearse for 'Merga-troid and the Candy Store.'

Written by

Caleb Whitmer
| The Tennessean

Children with autism spectrum disorder need to learn social skills, to be engaged, to interact with their peers - and musical theater can teach them, says Blythe Corbett, assistant professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University.

In June, the University School of Nashville played host to the third annual SENSE Theatre Summer Camp, a research program directed by Corbett for improving the social and emotional functioning of autistic children.

The kids, from ages 6 to 16, participated in therapy while rehearsing a play written by Corbett during the two-week camp. They publicly performed ...